So, apparently we’re on the verge of another mass extinction – the last one killed off the dinosaurs. We’ve exploited the planet through hunting, fishing, and degrading wild habitats, and the planet is fighting back. Couldn’t happen to a nicer species, judging by our behaviour of late. I thought the advent of ‘promposals’ would have pushed us over the edge.

“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” – The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien

Since I’m effectively agoraphobic during winter, it seems like a good time to turn my attention to this mess around me that I’ve accumulated, and scan through the wee bits of paper on which I’ve written a germ of an idea, usually accompanied by an *asterisk* and several exclamation points!!! I just have to haul them out from under the weight of the newspaper clippings, flyers, magazines, library books and paper backs they’ve landed under, over and in between.

Have you ever had a song just completely change your mood? There are some songs out there that can infuse you with energy, happiness and excitement. Having a day where you just can’t muster the fucks to give about…well, anything? Currently in the throes of one of those days, I decided to turn to my newly acquired Rdio account, and peruse my growing collection of tracks and playlists for a song or seven to drag me out of the hum drum existence I’d found myself in.

Be it in Canada, or while visiting our neighbours to the south, I have always been an east coast type of guy. Give me Halifax over Vancouver, St. John’s over Victoria and, most definitely New York over Los Angeles. In the past I spent a lot of time in both New York and L.A. as back in the good old days these were the two epicentres of the record biz. L.A. can have its charms in the short term, what with the weather and the ocean, but it is strange to be in a town where nobody walks. I walk everywhere and think nothing of a quick jaunt from the Beach in Toronto to downtown. People in New York walk. Manhattan streets are an obstacle course of fast moving people, yellow cabs, constant honking and ever present sirens. There is an energy and attitude in NYC that is sadly lacking in L.A..

I don’t listen to much radio. When it is on in the house it is usually on 680 News for news and weather updates. Occasionally CBC Radio 1 or 2 will be heard in the kitchen or perhaps NewsTalk 1010. I never listen to radio on-line. I don’t listen to radio for new music. I will listen to rock radio if one of my artists doing a live interview. When I am out of the house I always have my iPod on. This is where I listen to new music but, obviously, I have to program the iPod with playlists and the one I listen to most often is simply called “Current”.